Heavy Snow — Northern Gila County, Arizona

2019-02-21 to 2019-02-22 · Northern Gila County, Arizona

Event narrative

Four inches of snow fell below 5,000 feet (4,880 feet) in Payson by 730 AM on February 21. Total snowfall amounts for this zone (up to 6,000 feet or more along the Mogollon Rim--great upslope!) include (in inches): Washington Park 35.5, Natural Bridge 32.0, 4 miles south of Pine 32, Young 30, Payson 28.0, Pine 25.0, Washington Park 25.0, and Star Valley 25.0.

Wider weather episode

A cold, strong, intensifying low pressure system spread a deep blanket of snow over a majority of central and northern Arizona between the evening of February 20th and the night of February 22nd, 2019. Across the Mogollon Rim and other high country regions, reports of two to over three feet of snow were received. Anywhere from a few inches to over a foot of snow fell in the lower deserts and valleys of northern Arizona. These lower elevations may not see accumulating snow for several years at at time. For many locations across central and northern Arizona, this storm was among the top 10 greatest recorded. The single-day snowfall record was broken at Flagstaff Airport and in Show Low. As a result of the heavy snowfall, major roadways were closed, trees were downed and power was lost in local communities. Both the City of Flagstaff and Coconino declared a state of emergency on February Thursday 21.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 814379. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.